GB839200A - Production of gases containing unsaturated hydrocarbons - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:0839200/IV (b)/1> In a process of producing gases containing acetylene and ethylene from a feedstock comprising at least one lower aliphatic hydrocarbon, the feedstock is introduced into a stream of oxygen-free combustion products which are at a temperature of at least 1800 DEG C. and at least 1100 DEG C. above the temperature of the feedstock and are travelling at a speed greater than 200 feet per minute but less than the speed of sound at said temperature, the reactant mixture so formed being maintained in a reaction zone at between 800-1500 DEG C. for less than 1 second. The feedstock may be ethane, propane, butane, pentane, hexane, heptane and octane, natural gasoline, kerosene, ethylene, propylene and other unsaturated aliphatics of methane in the presence of steam. Non-vaporizable liquid hydrocarbons such as heavy oils may be cracked by being introduced in finely-divided form in a carrier gas. The combustion products may be formed by combustion of solid, liquid or gaseous fuels, e.g. natural gas, with air or oxygen and the temperature of the combustion products is preferably between 2000 DEG and 2900 DEG C. Where acetylene is the desired product the temperature in the reaction zone should be at least 1000 DEG C. while ethylene should be produced at temperatures between 800 DEG and 1000 DEG C. In the apparatus of Fig. 1, there is provided a combustion-chamber 50 having a burner 47 and leading through a constriction 52 to a reaction chamber 57, the feed-stock being introduced into the combustion gases through a gap 53; constricting bodies 54 adjacent the gap 53 provide a Venturi-shaped mixing zone for the combustion products and the feedstock.